
Preparation for the Second
Missionary Journey
1.
After having returned from his
first missionary journey and having
spent some time at Antioch in Syria,
what motivated Paul to set out on
another missionary journey? Acts
15:36.
NoTE.—"Both Paul and Barnabas had a
tender regard for those who had recently
accepted the gospel message under their
ministry, and they longed to see them once
more. This solicitude Paul never lost. Even
when in distant mission fields, far from
the scene of his earlier labors, he continued
to bear upon his heart the burden of urg-
ing these converts to remain faithful, 'per-
fecting holiness in the fear of God.'
. . . Constantly he tried to help them to
become self-reliant, growing Christians,
strong in faith, ardent in zeal, and whole-
hearted in their consecration to God and to
the work of advancing His kingdom."—The
Acts of the Apostles,
page 201.
2.
What caused Paul's break with
Barnabas, and who accompanied Paul
on his second missionary journey?
Acts 15:37-40.
NOTE.—"Barnabas was ready to go with
Paul, but wished to take with them Mark,
who had again decided to devote himself
to the ministry. To this Paul objected. He
`thought not good to take . . . with them'
one who during their first missionary jour-
ney had left them in a time of need. He
was not inclined to excuse Mark's weak-
ness in deserting the work for the safety
and comforts of home. He urged that one
with so little stamina was unfitted for
a
work requiring patience, self-denial, brav-
ery, devotion, faith, and a willingness to
sacrifice, if need be, even life itself. So
sharp was the contention that Paul and
Barnabas separated, the latter following
out his convictions and taking Mark with
him."—The Acts of the Apostles,
page 202.
3.
Who joined the evangelistic
company at Lystra? Acts 16:1-3.
The Gospel to Europe
4.
What circumstances led Paul to
carry the gospel to Europe? Acts
16:6-10.
NOTE.—"Both Roman power and Greek
culture are the servants and agents of
Paul as he stands upon the shores of the
Aegean Sea and faces the problems of
Europe. It is one of those eras in history
which give one pause. One can but won-
der what might have been the result if
Paul had not pushed on to Troas, but had
turned back to Cappadocia and Pontus, to
Armenia and Babylonia, to India and
China. Others might in time have carried
the gospel westward, as some did to Rome.
But if the stamp of Paul were removed
from Macedonia, Achaia, and Rome, Chris-
tian history would not have run the same
course."—A. T. Robertson,
Epochs in the
Life of Paul,
page 146 (1935 ed.).
5.
Who else joined the company
at this point? Acts 16:11.
NOTE.—"Luke, the writer of the Gospel
that bears his name, was a medical mis-
sionary. In the Scriptures he is called 'the
beloved physician.' . . . The apostle Paul
heard of his skill as a physician, and
sought him out as one to whom the Lord
had entrusted a special work. He secured
his cooperation, and for some time Luke
accompanied him in his travels from place
to place."—The
Ministry of Healing,
pages
140, 141.
"We have not had Luke's presence in
the story before, and it is revealed here
by the use of 'we' and 'us' (Acts 16:10).
Where Luke joined the party we are not
told. It is possible, though pure conjec-
ture, that this 'beloved physician' (Col.
4:14) may have saved Paul's life during
his sickness in Galatia (Gal. 4:13). But
the appearance of this Gentile Christian
(one of Paul's new converts?) on the
scene is an event of the first importance
in the life of Paul. He will not, indeed, be
with Paul constantly, though he is in the
story in Acts steadily, from Acts 20:5 to
the end, as well as from 16:10 to Philippi
(the 'we' sections). He is with Paul in
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